Typewriter line spacer



1 Feb. 2, 1937. E. McMlLLAN 2,069,550

TYPEWRITER LINE SPACER Filed Feb. 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Z. L. M Millan TYPEWRITER LINE SPACER Filed Feb. 18, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invento'r E. L M Millan Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNHTED ATENT 3 Claims.

My invention relates generally to means for controlling and predetermining the rotation of the platen of a typewriter through manipulation of the usual spacer handle, and particularly to means directly operated by the usual spacer handle whereby locked partial rotations of the platen may be achieved so as to predetermine the exact writing of lines spaced at intervals different both in point of location and in amount of spacing, from the usual spacings procurable on standard typewriters, such as single-space, doublespace and triple-space, and an important object of my invention is to provide simple and inexpensive means of the character indicated above which may be readily and inexpensively adapted to different makes of standard typewriters and other typewriters and thereby greatly facilitate the work of the typist, particularly in filling in ruled-forpen forms, such as are extensively used in accounting, and thereby save considerable time besides increasing the accuracy and uniformity of the work.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a portion of a 30 standard typewriter showing an application of the invention thereto.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1 approximately on the line 22 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a front elevational View of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken through a portion of the tab bar showing a portion of the invention connected thereto.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the flexible supporting bracket.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designates the platen of the typewriter with which is operatively engaged the clutch mechanism which is generally designated by the numeral 6, the connection of the clutch mechanism and the platen being controlled by the position varying knob "l, and the clutch releasing and engaging member 3, the latter having longitudinal movement and being normally outwardly springpressed in the clutch engaging position. At the rear of the typewriter is the usual tab bar 9 having the reduced threaded end l0. On the front of the typewriter is the usual link It having the pivot [2 which connects its front end operatively with the right angular arml3 of the horizontally reciprocable spacer lever [4 whereby pulling upon the free end of the lever l4 toward the right in the direction of the arrow will cause operation of the link H in a manner to rotate the platen 5 on its axis a distance equal to the number of line spaces for. which the spacing mechanism generally designated [5 was set. These arrangements are conventional and vary slightly in different makes of typewriters but are in all general respects similar and do not require to be described herein for an understanding of the invention. In order tosecure the greatest clarity in the explanation and illustration of the present invention, it may be pointed out that the drawings herein show adaptation of the invention to a standard Royal typewriter.

In accordance with the present invention a bracket which is generally designated I6, composed of the stationary generally horizontal bar ll which has depending from its inner end the bifurcated portion I8 which is to engage behind the bolt I9, is to be clamped by the bolt in position on the typewriter. The bolt or screw 49 is already located on the lower part of the carriage of the typewriter. At the outer end of the bar l is a hinge H which is pivotally engaged with the lower end of the upright bar 20 whose upper end reaches approximately the level of the lever 53 where it is formed as a part of a universal connection 20' with the outer end of the generally horizontal bar 25 which is considerably shorter than the horizontal bar I! and has on its inward end a depending pin 26 which is provided with a cotter pin receiving hole 21. The upright bar 23 is provided with a threaded hole 2 I. It should be pointed out that the bracket [6 is vertically and axially aligned with the axis of the platen 5 but located therebelow as is obvious in Figure 3.

Mounted in the opening 2| in the upright bar 28, the said opening being threaded, is the bolt or screw 22 which is provided on its outer end with the finger knob 23 and on its inner end with the head 24, the said screw 22 being axially aligned with the clutch operating member 8 as indicated in Figures 1 and 3. It is obvious that the hinge structure l1 and the universal connection 20' permit the upright 20 to be swung toward and away from the clutch operating member 8 so as to engage the head 24 of the screw 22 with the member 8 or to withdraw the screw from engagement with the member 8.

The operating linkage which is generally designated 29 is composed of the generally horizontal long bar 28 which has hinged as indicated at 28' to its front end the link 3| which has its front end pivoted as indicated at 32 by the pivot 35, as indicated in Figure 2. Near the front end 7 of the bar 28 is provided a vertical opening which rotatably receives the pin 26 which depends therethrough and is prevented from working out therefrom by the cotter pin 30 as indicated in Figure 3.

At the rear end of the bar 28 is a hinge connection 29' to the axially outward end of the horizontal part of an inverted L-shaped member 36 whose standard portion 36 has on its lower end an axially inwardly extending horizontal part 31 which is provided with the reduced threaded part 38 which is threadedly received in the bore of the turnbuckle 39. The turnbuckle 39 replaces the usual nut found at this point on the standard typewriter; As shown in Figure 4 the threaded part of the tab bar 9 passes through an opening in the carriage member 40 into the turnbuckle 39.

When it is desired to use the ordinary singlespace, 'doubl'e-space or triple-space on the 'type- V writer platen action, the rod-22 is adjusted so that it does not in any position of the lever 1M engage the clutch operating'member 8; When, however, it is desired to operate the spacer lever M in such a way as to shift the platen distances greater or less than the conventional spacing which would :ordinarily be achieved by manipulation of the lever M, the rod 22 isadjusted axially inward so as to strike the clutch operating member 8 at any pre determined stage of the movementof spacing lever l4. By reason of this provision for operating the clutch operating member 8, ordinary operation of the spacing lever M will cause the clutch operating member to disengage the platen clutch at the'predetermined point of the rotation of the platen 5. When the platen clutch is released, the

,platen will then remain stationary at 'the' point of release even. though the spacing lever I4 is moved to the limitof its usual arc. ,By predetermining the adjustment of the rod or screw 22,

' the unconventional spacing maybe exactly preplaten locking mechanism, whenever the lever I4 7 determined. It is obvious'that'the spring of the clutch operating member 8 and the spring of the spacer mechanism will throw the spacer lever I4 to the left and retract the rod 22 out of engagement with the clutch operating member '8, and thereby reengage the clutch, so as to reengage the feature of operation of the device of the invention eliminates the possibility in ordinary circumstances of ununiformlyspaced and ununiformly written lines, and enables accurately and uniformly 7 writing in oddly spaced lines such as ruled-forpen forms have. Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in the materials, and in the structure and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is: V

1. The combination with a typewriter carriage including a platen setting mechanism including a spacer lever, clutch :means operatively engaged with the said mechanism, clutch releasing means,

and third means operatively engageable with the clutch releasing meansand operableby said-spacer leverso as to engage said clutch release. means and release'the clutchat any predetermined stage of actuation'of the said mechanism for producing spacing rotation of the platen difierent from the established spacing of the said mechanism, said third means being adjustable to vary its spacing effect.

2. The combination with :atypewriter carriage engage said clutch release means and release the clutch at any predetermined stage of actuation of the said mechanism for producing spacing rotation'oi 'the'platensdiiferent from the established spacing of said mechanism, said third means being adjustable to vary its spacing effect, and fourth.

means supporting the third means and connected to the tab bar of said carriage.

3. In a typewriter carriage including a platen;

a spacer lever, .and releasable clutch means for said platen, clutch operating means for said clutch means, platen spacing means operated by said spacer lever, an adjustable memberr'operable by said spacer lever and engageable with said 7 clutch operating means in a manner to cause releasing of said clutch meansat any predetermined stage of actuation of the platen spacing means.

ERNEST LEWIS MCMILLAN. 

